The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1887-05-11

were Inc FRENCH launuroSScS to whom
the landlords wife sends their muslin
gowns and Swiss pclonaises to be done
up.n
What do We caro ?n rctortcd Clara,
with q sllrug Of her shoulders.
"Nothing in the world. But isn't il
co.nical, Clara, when one thinks back
owe it all ? How we came hero with
our eascls and our palettcs and our
c~olor-tubcs, expecting to make our
fortunes rs artists, painting woodland
scenes on birchbarl1, and reproducing
the sunsets OH bits of mill-board. And
then we discovered that every farmers
daughter in the ncighborhood was doing
the same thing, and that art was at Il
hopeless discount. And ncXt-you re-
member Clara-we tried to play The
piano for the dancing, until the colOrcd
tiddlcrs came over the mountain and
undcrbid us altogether. And VIC had
no money to buy our tickets back to
the city, nor to pay our hotel bills,
until-until-onc fortunate day the
%laundress lost her temper and left at All
hours notice, and l helped Mrs. Fitch
out Of her dilemma !"
"And now" said Clara, ''wc are
making eight or ten dollars u week.
"Out OF the wash-tub," said
Nosamond, blithely; 'and boarding
ourselves. Oh, how thankful l am that
| spent that long, drcary, dismal winter
with old Aunt Abigail, in a haunted
house where no help could be induced
to stay, and then and there learned to
wash and iron equal to any heather
Chincc !"
81 believe, Rosamond," ''that you
would laugh ut anythang."
'But it is SO ridiculous" persisted
merry Rosamond. "To think Of the
downfall that our lofty ideas had.
From artist to washerwoman From
Prussian blue and Venetian red to
indigo bags and starch !"
And she jumped up and ran back to
the boiler, which was now spluttering
and bubblinC like some infatuated
monster.
cts boiling over, Clara-it's boiling
overl" she cried, in loud, sweet
accents. "1Ielp me off with %it--quick,
or the clothes will be burned.
"Allow me-" spoke a calm, deep
voice; and tho next moment the kettle
was swung of the impromptu crane
upon the grass below, and Rosamond
Rayforth found herself face TO face
with Captain Afford, the taller and
handsomer Of the two officers with
whom she had waltzcd the midnight
before. While Harry Drayton, the
younger cayalryman, advanced through
tho bushes, with his gun balanced ovcr
his shoulder, and the c%ountenance of
ono who was sure Of welcome.
$50 this is camp !" said he.
Eyes" said Rosamond, ~stceling her
self to the occasion; "this is the camp!
Won't you walk III, Captain Afford ?
And you, MI. Drayton ("
"But I shall be interrupting you |"
lfosamond smiled; a CHEEKY sparkle
came into her soft. dark eyes.
"a little" she owned. eve are
always busy at this time Of day, Clara
and I. In the afternoon-only in the
afternoon-you will probably see us at
the hotel, in OIL best frocks and with
our hair out Of crimping- pins.
Captain Afford glanced hclplcssly
around.
"Oh, J see,'' said he. "But just
here you are"
"Doing tho washing" explained
Rosamond, %sercnely, "Don't you sec
the clothes on tho lines :? And wo Shall
be ironing in All hour or two. we are
working-bees, Captain Alford,n
Couldn't we help ?" said Harry
Drayton, grounding arms at once.
"I'm afraid not ~ said Clara rcddcn-
ing.
ooh, Captain Afford" cried Rosa
mond, unable longer to roprcss her
laughter, "don't look SO b%ewildered,
and I'll tell you the beginning, tho
middle and tho ond OF 1t at once"
81 suppose you are doing this for a
JOKE said Captain Afford; cor rs n
wager, perhaps. Ladies TO sometimes
bet, as / have heard"
But Rosamond shook her head, still
with the roguish dimplos cleaning
around her lips, the diamond-sMrkles
in her eyes.
"No," said she, eve are not doing it
for a joke, nor yet for u wager. We
came up horo a. artists, but we 500
found that we should starye to death